9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10
Today we mention a touchy subject in our world today that is involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Loyalties are split about the Middle East and what belongs to whom. Yesterday we looked at Abraham along with his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot setting out to some “promised land” by faith. We admitted that for many of us, we are on a journey to an unknown destination defined by our faith. So it seems to me that as I read today in Hebrews that the crew “stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land…” that it is kind of like a motel stay. My friends on a recent trip came down with Covid and had to stay in a motel for several unexpected days and readjust their travel plans. Some motels are designed for “extended stays.” Hebrews mentions Isaac and Jacob, who were Abraham’s son and grandson. We also know that because of a famine the family traveled to Egypt more than once and those trips impacted the trajectory of their story.
I think we often think of God’s promises like permanent gifts that are ours forever but I suspect our verses today remind us that we are blessed to be a blessing. We are blessed and can pass the blessing along. It is not ours to clutch as a permant possession. We are to share. Also our blessings impact the nature of our descendants’ lives. Israel and Jacob inherited the journey their ancestor Abraham started. Our decisions impact the context of our kids’ lives. Regardless of these impacts, Abraham was “looking forward to a city whose architect and builder was God.”
So what are you looking forward to? Does the “city” you look forward to look like Revelation’s New Jerusalem or more like the bigger and better subburbs? Just askin. It’s worth thinking about where I am anticipating God is leading me. Write a brief description of your dreams in your journal!
On the Way to Wonder 